DV-2020 Program: Online Registration

Diversity Visa Instructions

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Complete your own application. The online entry application is easy and free.

The processing requirements below are for the DV 2020 program. Instructions for DV 2019 applicants follow.

DV-2020 Program: Online Registration

DV-2020 Program: The revised online registration period for the DV-2020 Program begins on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5). Individuals who submit more than one entry during the registration period will be disqualified.

DV-2020 Program Instructions

The English version of the DV-2020 Program Instructions in PDF format are provided for your convenience and required use. The English language version of the DV-2020 Program Instructions is the only official version. Unofficial translations in additional languages will be added to this webpage as they become available.

VIDEO

Note: As indicated in the instructions, for the purposes of eligibility some countries include components and dependent areas overseas. If you are a native of a dependency or overseas territory, please select the appropriate country of eligibility. For example, natives of Macau S.A.R should select Portugal, and natives of Martinique should select France.

Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery

Welcome

Our State Department Web site for the 2020 Diversity Visa Program (DV-2020) is now open. The entry submission period for DV-2020 is from 12:00PM EDT (GMT -4) on October 3, 2018 to 12:00PM EST (GMT -5) on November 6, 2018. The entry form will only be available for submission during this period and this period only. Entries will NOT be accepted through the U.S. Postal Service.

After reading the instructions, click the “Begin Entry” button below to enter the DV Lottery.

Entry Instructions

Please read the DV-2020 Entry Instructions carefully. Entrants may be disqualified for not completing the entry form correctly or by submitting more than one entry. Use the link below to view the instructions.

Photo Instructions

Before beginning the entry process, verify that your picture and pictures for any dependents fully comply with DV entry photo requirements included in the DV-2020 instructions. Your case will be disqualified if you submit a non-compliant photo. For examples of acceptable photos, click the button below.

Entry Form

The entry form is prepared in two parts, one for the primary Entrant and one for derivatives (if any). Each part must be completed correctly and completely before going to the next part. After all parts are completed, the entry will be submitted to the DV-2020 Processing Center. Click the link below to begin the entry process.

DV Entrant Status Check

2020 Entrant Status Check

DV-2020 Entrants may enter their confirmation information through the link below starting at noon (EDT) on May 7, 2019. The DV-2020 registration period opens on October 3, 2018, and closes on November 6, 2018. DV-2020 Entrants should keep their confirmation number until at least September 30, 2020.

2019 Entrant Status Check

DV-2019 Entrants have until September 30, 2019 to check the status of their entry through this website. The DV-2019 registration period was from October 18, 2017, until November 22, 2017.

This section of the website explains the entry process (also called “registration”) for the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, which is the first step in pursuing a diversity immigrant visa. Additional steps are covered in subsequent pages, and are displayed on the visual flow chart above.

Please view our video for an introduction to the Diversity Visa program, and step-by-step guidance to help you submit an entry. (Note: minor changes have been made to the DV-2020 entry form, but the instructions provided in the video are still valid.)

Section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provides for a class of immigrants known as “diversity immigrants,” from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. A limited number of visas are available each fiscal year. The DVs are distributed among six geographic regions and no single country may receive more than seven percent of the available DVs in any one year.

For a list of countries/areas by region whose natives are eligible for DV-2020 and DV-2019, please refer to the DV Instructions.

The requirements for the DV program are established by U.S. immigration law. If you are planning to register for the DV program, be sure to look closely at the requirements for this type of visa.